The SkyWatcher StarQuest 70/500 refractor is highly recommended for beginner skywatchers. The Moon’s small craters, Saturn’s magnificent rings and Jupiter’s splendid cloud bands are sure to captivate novice observers. But this telescope can do even more! With a little practice, numerous double stars, dazzling star clusters and mysterious galaxies can also be observed. Thanks to its relatively short focal length, it is also well suited for terrestrial observation.
The box contains everything you need to get started! First and foremost, two eyepieces providing 20x and 50x magnification; additional magnifications can be achieved with short focal length eyepieces or a Barlow lens. The standard package also includes a StarPointer for easier alignment with brighter celestial objects, as well as a mirror diagonal for comfortable viewing. The white optical tube is particularly advantageous for solar observation with a solar filter and for daytime nature observation, as it absorbs less heat than a black tube and dissipates it more quickly.
The new StarQuest equatorial mount is lightweight at just 1.2 kg, yet strong enough to carry telescope optical tubes weighing up to 3 kg. Its large 122-tooth worm wheel enables smooth fine adjustment through 360° on both axes. The extendable tripod can be adjusted to suit the observer’s height and significantly improves stability, while the eyepiece tray provides a convenient place for accessories used during observation. Although the mount is designed for equatorial use, it can also be positioned horizontally and used in alt-azimuth mode when required. With an optional stepper-motor drive, the mount automatically tracks the apparent rotation of the sky, keeping selected objects in the field of view for easier extended observation.
